Hawks edge Phoenix in OAA Blue soccer finale, 2-1

Senior David Tetaj scored both goals in the second half Tuesday as Harrison rallied to defeat host Pontiac in boys soccer, 2-1.

The Hawks finished 6-1 in the OAA Blue Division and half a game behind Oxford, which went unbeaten in the division with one tie.

“We played poorly in the first half, and it did not help that we were missing key players to both injury and illness,” Harrison coach Tim Russell said.

“The field conditions were terrible. There were no field personnel available to run the table or chase balls that went out of play. All in all, it was terrible playing conditions.”

Solid play from Randy Perkins, Ari Hollander, Edwin Marples and Justin Honer helped the Hawks (8-8) get through the first half, trailing 1-0 at the end.

“The rest of the team joined them in the second half as we mounted a furious comeback, eventually taking over the whole field of play,” Russell said. “Julian Blindu, Jad Mourad, Danny Kagan and Tetaj, to name a few, really picked up their play.

“In the end, we won ugly, but sometimes that’s how good teams need to win, when conditions are not right, when their heads aren’t quite in the game.”

Harrison’s only division loss was to Oxford when a young defense was just getting organized and senior captain Brett Chasnick was out with an injury, Russell added.

“I sure would have liked to have played them later in the season, but we had our chance,” he said.

Falcons on short end

Farmington scored its only goal on Austin Anthony’s header in a 4-1 loss to visiting Dearborn Fordson in non-league play Thursday.

Callum Ashmore assisted on the goal that made the tally 3-1 in the second half. The Falcons missed on a penalty kick late in the game that would have made it 4-2.

“We continued to press and were playing with three in back,” coach Matt Gasparotto said. “We adjusted our midfield and played aggressive soccer. We tried to force the attack and keep the pressure on Fordson.

“My intent is to encourage the mentality that we’re going to continue to attack and get ourselves back in the game. We’re not going to sit back and defend a 1-0 loss.

“I want the boys to be okay knowing we might give up a goal. It doesn’t matter whether we lose the game 5-0 or 1-0. I want to build the mentality among the boys we’re going to assert ourselves in all phases of the game regardless of the score.

“We’re going to push and put players into attacking positions. Sometimes, it’s going to cost us; sometimes, it’s going to work the other way, and we’re going to get ourselves back in the game.”

Farmington (5-7-2) will play host to Romulus in a Division 2 district game Tuesday. If Harrison defeats Redford Union and the Falcons win, the teams will have a rematch Wednesday evening at Harrison.

“Our approach all season was to get prepared for the district,” Gasparotto said. “Hopefully, the regular season did that. I believe we’ll be ready and excited to play.”

Eagles trip Trojans

Clarenceville lost a hard-fought match to visiting Ferndale in the regular-season finale Thursday night, 1-0.

The Eagles scored 30 seconds into the second half on a goal by Connor Wilson. The Trojans battled back and had several opportunities, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.